A Vicksburg man was found guilty Wednesday of shooting into an occupied vehicle after a three-day trial in Warren County Circuit Court.

Andrew Patten, 26, 65 Brogdon Drive, was acquitted of a second charge of aggravated assault.

The jury of six men and six women was chosen and sworn in Monday by presiding Judge Isadore Patrick. They deliberated for about three hours before returning the verdict.

Patten was arrested following the March 13, 2010, incident in which a family member’s car was shot as well as rammed repeatedly by the defendant. A rear door was crushed, authorities said.

Police were called to the home at 721 Beresford St. around 11:20 p.m.

A police investigator testified that at least one and perhaps three bullets from an assault rifle penetrated the victim’s car, traveled through her purse, the back of her seat and parts of the vehicle’s frame, said Warren County victim assistance coordinator Brenda Theriot.

The investigator said one bullet could have caused the damage if it ricocheted, Theriot said.

Patten testified in his own defense that he had taken the rifle out of the trunk of his own car, after driving to the home, because he felt uneasy during confrontations since being shot at a Jackson club several years ago. Patten said the gun went off accidentally.

After the verdict was read, another family member shouted threats about the victim in the area outside the courtroom, then collapsed on the stairway landing and had to be taken to the emergency room by ambulance, Theriot said. Her condition was not known.

James “Buck” Penley defended Patten. Prosecutors were District Attorney Ricky Smith and Assistant DA Dewey Arthur.

Patrick set sentencing for April 15. Patten faces a maximum of five years in prison.

Also in Warren County Circuit Court for the week ending Friday:

• Marcus Cooper, 29, 1900 Baldwin Ferry Road, pleaded guilty to sale of a controlled substance and was sentenced by Patrick to two years in prison followed by five years of probation, a $5,000 fine and $622.50 in court costs. Cooper was indicted by the grand jury in October.

• Shonita M. Green, 35, 1513 First North St., pleaded guilty to uttering a forgery and was sentenced by Judge M. James Chaney to two years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections Intensive Supervision Program (house arrest) followed by three years of probation, a $1,000 fine, $1,173.19 in restitution and $322.50 in costs. Green was arrested Feb. 9, 2009.

• Kenneth Frank Patterson, 31, 3159 Mount Alban Road, was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Chaney to 71 days in jail (time already served) followed by probation for up to five years per Patterson’s original sentencing order. Patterson must also complete inpatient and any recommended outpatient drug and alcohol therapy. He was indicted in January 2006 for two counts of domestic violence.